ERP Software

Virtual meet and greet for seekers of ERP

The iTSHOWCASE web site includes a virtual exhibition of ERP software companies. Alongside product information, you can view the latest news releases about this application sector, supported by implementation case histories and studies.

The site also has an RSS feed specifically for ERP Software

This is a resource for project leaders to aid the short-listing of appropriate ERP vendors and the facilitation of face-to-face discussions at the iTSHOWCASE Live events also promoted via the website.

Siemens cancels SAP maintenance contract

Siemens has cancelled their maintenance contract with SAP, due to SAP’s reluctance to offer a discount on the annual maintenance contract which comes in at over 30 million euros.

SAP CEO Leo Apotheker could not give Siemens special terms as he would open a whole can of worms around SAP customers and complaints over the value of the maintenance contracts. Looks like in today’s tough times the third party maintenance companies must be doing well.

http://www.riministreet.com/index.php

IFS Buys Multiplus

The erp  market continued its consolidation march as Swedish  IFS announced it would acquire ERP provider MultiPlus Solutions ,based in Norway.

IFS has agreed to purchase MultiPlus from its parent company, Qurius International Holding . MultiPlus focus is  in project-based software with clients in engineering, procurement and construction industries .This is part of IFS Grand plan to double revenue by 2013.

CEO Alistair Sorbie “With the acquisition of Multiplus Solutions, IFS can be seen to be executing on its stated strategy for growth and doing so by growing in one of its primary target sectors. The industries served by project-based solutions is a market in which … IFS seeks to achieve a market-leading position.”

 

CRM Vendors by revenue

Usefull information about CRM Vendors their revenue and growth in 2007-2008

Company	2008  Revenue	2008 Market Share (%)	2007  Revenue	2007 Share (%)	2007-2008 Growth (%)
SAP	2,055	22.5	2,072	25.5	-0.8
Oracle	1,475	16.1	1,320	16.2	11.8
Salesforce.com	965	10.6	676	8.3	42.7
Microsoft	581	6.4	332	4.1	75.0
Amdocs	451	4.9	419	5.2	7.6
Others	3,620	39.6	3,311	40.7	9.3
Total	9,147	100.0	8,130	100.0	12.5

http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=1074615

Selecting a ERP Package , "The Office " way

Great youtube video from Syspro on "The Office " style route to selecting a ERP soltion.

New Office Lingo

Here are some great new terms being used in the uk at the moment.

A list of new office jargon:

• The two CC's (credit crunch and current climate)

• Clocking real mileage (a really strong idea)

• A high altitude view (taking a step back)

• Reaching the blue ocean of success (reaching a goal)

• Get a helicopter view by turning 360° and then circling back to your colleagues (taking a step back)

• Let's run that idea up the flag pole and see if it flies (try out an idea)

• Picking the low-lying fruit (a quick win)

• Down to that level of granularity (detail)

• Let's touch base about that offline (have a chat face-to-face)

• Feeling stressurised (under pressure and stress)

• Strategic staircase (a plan for the future)

• Better not let the grass grow too long on this one (act quickly).

from the Telegraph

Openbravo the next Navision?

Two old timers from Microsoft’s ERP Division have joined the Openbravo, the Spanish ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) specialist. Jesper Balser, co-founder and CEO of Navision has joined Openbravo.
Cees Poortman, formerly the Managing Director of Navision Netherlands and Director for Microsoft Business Solutions, is also joining Openbravo the Vice President of Global Commercial Operations.

ERP Implementation Survey Report

  

The 2008 ERP Report was conducted by Panorama Consulting Group via online polling

This information was collected from December 2005 to November 2008. Respondents represent 1,322 global organizations that have implemented ERP within the last three years. Participants are based in all of the major regions in the world, with a majority operating in either North America (31 percent) or Asia Pacific (31 percent).

The survey reveals that

93 % of ERP implementations take longer than expected.    

59 %  implementations  cost more than initially assumed.

 

13%  of respondents characterize themselves as “very satisfied” with their company’s software implementation.

 

38 % of respondents indicated “lack of employee buy-in” as the biggest challenge facing ERP implementation teams.

 

57 % of participants suffered operational stoppages.

 

Only 21% realized 50 % or more of their projected benefits.

 

SAP to buy manufacturing bolt on

SAP has bought Visiprise, that specializes in manufacturing execution systems (MES) which as 300 employees.

This will give SAP the extra functionality needed to compete in the complex discrete manufacturing sector such as aerospace, high tech and defense industries.

"It signals SAP's commitment to manufacturing," said Simon Jacobson, senior research analyst at Boston-based AMR Research. "Now you can buy MES from your ERP provider."

Manufacturing execution software definition: A shop floor control system which includes either manual or automatic labor and production reporting as well as on-line inquiries and links to tasks that take place on the production floor. MES includes links to work orders, receipt of goods, shipping, quality control, maintenance, scheduling, and other related tasks.

http://www.visiprise.com

SAP press release

Netsuite to purchase Openair

NetSuite's has acquired OpenAir Inc for $26 Million.Openair offers SaaS for service based companies to manage billable staff and projects.

OpenAir focus is marketing firms, law firms, consulting companies and IT services companies. They might be small (56 employees) but have won the 2008 Software and Information Industry Association's Codie award for best business software solution.

Netsuite has committed to invest in the current OpenAir software solutions for a minimum of 10 years and OpenAir customers will not be required to migrate to NetSuite products.